Blister preventive and foot pad



1 26 1 2 Juy 9 7 F. SHEEHAN BLISTER PREVENTIVE AND FOOT PAD Filed March 19, 1924 FIG. 2.

J Fran]: Skeekanf Patented July 26, 1927.

FRANK SHEEHAN, F I'IHACA, NEW YORK.

BLISTER PREVENTIVE AND FOOT PAD.

Application filed March 19, 1924. Serial No. 700,321.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in blister preventives and foot p ds and has particular reference to a member of pocket or sack formation embodying a flexible shield and an elastic body for covering the toe and ball of a foot and being especially designed for use by athletes playing certain games and wearing athletic shoes to prevent the formation of blisters upon the ball of a foot and also for protecting a blister that might have been formed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blister preventive and foot pad in the form of a shield or sack wherein the walls of the sack adjacent the open end thereof have elastic members embedded therein while the inelastic end of the sack is moved through the open end thereof to form a double wall construction with the elastic portion of the sack disposed exteriorly and forming an intervening pocket in which a pad or medicament may be placed.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawin and claimed.

in the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts through the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the blister preventive and foot pad constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being illustrated as positioned upon the toes and ball of a foot that is illustrated by dotted lilies,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device similar to Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device in extended position showing the closed end extended from the elastic open end,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line IVIV of Fig. 3 showing the elastic strands embedded in the walls of the open end of the device, and

Figure 5 .is a side elevational view, similar to Fig. 1 showing the'closed end of the device extended through the open end thereof and in position for use.

The blister preventive and foot pad is especially designed for athletes when athletic or like shoes are worn to prevent the formation of blisters upon the ball of the foot and as illustrated in the extended positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the same is preferaoly formed similar to a sack or toe portion of a sock and embodies a body portion 1 closed at the toe end thereof as at 2, the same being formed a fabric of a flexible nature and open at the opposite end thereof as at The open end of the sack as indicated by the reference numeral 4 between the points 5 that extend a considerable distance into the sack from said open end has inserted therein a plurality of elastic cords 6 to render the area 4 of an elastic and close fitting nature for binding the ball of the foot F when in use as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The closed end of the sack is folded inwardly upon the point 5 at the inner end of the elastic portion 4 and completely passed through the elastic portion as shown in Fig. 5 to project therefrom. The device may be worn either interiorly or exteriorly of a sock and when in position as illustrated in Figs. land 2 the elastic por tion enclosing the ball of the foot and being positioned rearwardly of the toes will hold the same properly positioned and in View of the friction present between the overlapping portions, relative movement of the closed end of the sack and the elastic portion will be prevented. lVith a device of this character in use the toes of the foot are held in a proper position while the ball of the foot is protected against the formation of blisters by the formation of a hollow in the ball of the foot, caused by the elastic binding the foot. This protection is especially designed for use by athletes and when athletic shoes are worn, complete freedom of foot movement is permitted and friction caused by sliding movement of the foot will be eliminated because the center of the ball of the foot is not in contact with the shoe.

lVhile there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

\Vhat is claimed as new is 1. A device for preventing the formation or irritation of a blister on the tender central portion of the forward tread of the foot,

comprising an elastic band of such size and tension as to encase the ball portion of the foot and prevent spreadin of the heads of the metatarsal bones so hat the forward part of the transversearch of the foot is maintained with said central portion of the forward tread raised and protected against being" contacted and rubbed with pressure when a' shoe is worn on the foot, said elastic band being free of pads or projections capable of applying pressure against or causing rubbing contact with said central portion of the forward tread, and a soft mitfor covering the ball portion and toes of the foot attached at its rearv open end to the rear end of said elastic band, the ball covering portion of the mit forming, a lining for the elastic band, and the toe covering portion of the mitpreventing displacement of the band rearwardly towards the instep.

.2. A device for preventing the formation or irritation of a blister on the tender central portion of .the forward tread of the foot,

comprising an elastic band of such size and tension as to encase the ball portion of the foot and prevent spreading of the heads of the metatarsal bones so that the forward part of the transverse arch of the foot is maintained with said central portion of the forward tread raised and protected against being contacted and rubbed with pressure when a shoe is worn on the foot, said elastic band being free of pads or projections capable of applying pressure against or causing rubbing contact with said central portion of the forward tread, and a soft mit for covering the ball portion and toes of the foot attached at its rear open end to the rear end of said elastic band, the ball covering portion of the mit forming a lining for the elastic band, and the toe covering portion of the mit preventing displacement of the band rearwardly towards the instep, said mit being otherwise free of connection with the elastic band.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

FRANK SHEEHAN. 

